02-02-2009, 11:41 PM
Just to add my 2 bits' worth....We are talking a "thought" experiment here....Thought experiments played an important part in the development of the Special & General theories of Relativity, precisely because they could not be demonstrated by normal means. And the answer is yes....The lights would work, because RELATIVE to their source, the light is traveling at its "normal" speed. To a stationary observer on the ground (if one could be "on the ground"), the particles (photons) of light would indeed seem to be traveling at twice the SOL, but in order to be able to observe the event, the observer would need to "keep-up" with the event, that is, he would have to travel at the SOL, so the "doubling" effect would be nullified. In short, the speed of light is ALWAYS the same, irrespective of whether the source is moving, or stationary.
For those who would like to delve into this a little further, I suggest you read "The Evolution of Physics" by A. Einstein & Leopold Infeld. A good "layman's" explanation of what this is all about....
For those who would like to delve into this a little further, I suggest you read "The Evolution of Physics" by A. Einstein & Leopold Infeld. A good "layman's" explanation of what this is all about....
Gus (LC&P).